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Topic Review (Newest First)

05-25-2011 10:58 AM

dsolomon

Yes they have two pins on each side. Guess my description of the problem was poor. Attached is a Cometic gasket that I marked up to better explain. One of the gaskets, made by Fitzgerald, is correct for my motor. It has tabs in locations B and C which match my engine.
The second gasket, is made by McCord and although it is the same in thickness, cutouts and sealing rib design, it was made for an earlier engine. It has tabs in locations A and C. My engine does not have a pin in location A.

05-25-2011 10:33 AM

lmsport

Dont all Olds blocks have two dowels on the deck at the top, or valley side of the deck surface? I have never seen a 330,350,400,425 or 455 without that design.

05-25-2011 09:11 AM

dsolomon

I received the head gaskets and one was a McCord and not fitzgerald. It is the same in thickness, profile and material with one exception. It appears to be for a earlier oldsmobile 350 and does not have a tab in the center to locate the gasket. From what I understand earlier oldsmobile blocks had two pins towards the outside of the block. At some point they added a third boss in the block and moved one pin inward so the gaskets could only intstall one way. This McCord gasket does not have the center tab and my block does not have an outer pin (hope that makes sense). The gasket will only be located on one pin.
I contacted the supplier and he suggested using a thin film of chassis grease to hold the gasket in place while I installed the head. Any thoughts on this?

05-03-2011 08:59 AM

dsolomon

Good deal. What does the paint do? Does it assist in sealing the gaskets?

05-02-2011 04:53 PM

BOBCRMAN@aol.com

As stated. GM used these in the day. I used to buy stacks of these steel shim gaskets for SBC's. Still have some, plus some big blocks, somewhere. They crush to .019-.020.

Shoot them on both sides with cheap chrome/aluminum paint and install. No failures.

05-02-2011 11:53 AM

dsolomon

Thanks for the lead. The ones on the BP site have a CT of .045 and are composition. That is a different animal. The ones I saw were embossed steel and the seller said they have a CT of .019.

05-02-2011 11:46 AM

68NovaSS

Fitzgerald gaskets were used by GM in the '60's and '70's. Here's a blurb from Butler Performance, who evidently bought the original dies from GM:

Quote:

"Manufactured exclusively for BP from the original Fitzgerald dies used for GM in the 1960's and 1970's. These head gaskets will crush to approximately .045. Recommended installation: spray the metal side lightly with copper coat and let dry about 5", spray lightly again and let dry. The metal side goes to the block & the composition side goes toward the head. Do not spray the composition side."

Google them.

05-02-2011 11:25 AM

dsolomon

Fitzgerald Head Gaskets?

I found a guy selling a set of Fitzgerald head gaskets at Carlisle this weekend. The seller says they are correct for a 1970 Olds 350. They are embossed steel with a .019 CT. Anyone have any experience with these?